Alice gets a pass - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jude The Obscure · 04-14-2008, 12:42 PM

For a first episode of a series, it dared to tackle an issue that was very provocative for 1975. Alice is still new to the dating scene after being widowed and hasn't been in Phoenix long, when Mel's old college football buddy shows up and sparks her interest. Of course, when she notices he's too much a gentleman on the date, he confesses he's gay. Maybe since All in the Family and Maude were already doing controversial subject matter, the path was paved for an more innocent show like this one to handle this subject matter without CBS batting an eye (pun unintended). Actor Denny Miller portrayed another football hero in the last season of The Brady Bunch, as one of Carol's high school classmates. Alice being concerned about Tommy going on a camping trip with the guy just shows how much we really didn't know back then. The guy was gay, not a pedophile.

I'm discussing this episode because I just got the Alice TV Favorites DVD.

too bad, the pilot episode wasn't included on this disc as a bonus.....would really love to see that again--just to compare the two Tommys!

Ireneparalegal · 05-05-2008, 12:44 AM

I did not like the first Tommy at all. Phillip made the Tommy character his.

Seeing ALICE tackle major issues or controversial issues was not meant to be. The show was perfect being just a funny show. With Flo in the mix, it was great.

Jude The Obscure · 05-05-2008, 12:46 AM

I'm glad that Alice was not a NORMAN LEAR production

Ireneparalegal · 05-05-2008, 12:48 AM

I guess they tried with that one episode and realized "this is not going to work."

Thank goodness. I could not begin to imagine this:

A very special episode: Flo discovers her love for women.

Jude The Obscure · 05-05-2008, 12:51 AM

But don't you remember when Alice suggested that Flo go to the cabin with two women instead of a man, Flo's repsonse: "Alice, that's kinky!"

Ireneparalegal · 05-05-2008, 12:53 AM

Ok, forget what I said above.

I forgot. Thanx for the reminder.

catlover79 · 01-05-2009, 01:34 AM

I saw the episode with Alice's date who turned out to be gay. Yes, it would be no big deal if aired today, but I guess that would be a pretty big deal in 1976. That's even before Soap, with Billy Crystal's gay character.

Jude The Obscure · 01-05-2009, 10:22 AM

And for that fact that is was handled rather well for the time, rather than the normal over-reacting that could have been done.

catlover79 · 01-05-2009, 09:32 PM

Yes, and this was right around the time Marty on Barney Miller was introduced, who was DEFINITELY a stereotype.

Jude The Obscure · 01-06-2009, 12:09 AM

^ re: Marty--was he the ascot wearing, limp wristed, swishy type used as a recurring character on BM?

catlover79 · 01-06-2009, 12:17 AM

You mean this guy? Yes.

Jude The Obscure · 01-06-2009, 12:20 AM

^That be him!

catlover79 · 01-08-2009, 12:44 AM

The guy on the left, Ray Stewart, when on to play a male nurse on AES Hudson Street, opposite Gregory Sierra's Dr. Menzies.

04-14-2008, 12:42 PM	#1
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Alice gets a pass For a first episode of a series, it dared to tackle an issue that was very provocative for 1975. Alice is still new to the dating scene after being widowed and hasn't been in Phoenix long, when Mel's old college football buddy shows up and sparks her interest. Of course, when she notices he's too much a gentleman on the date, he confesses he's gay. Maybe since All in the Family and Maude were already doing controversial subject matter, the path was paved for an more innocent show like this one to handle this subject matter without CBS batting an eye (pun unintended). Actor Denny Miller portrayed another football hero in the last season of The Brady Bunch, as one of Carol's high school classmates. Alice being concerned about Tommy going on a camping trip with the guy just shows how much we really didn't know back then. The guy was gay, not a pedophile. I'm discussing this episode because I just got the Alice TV Favorites DVD. too bad, the pilot episode wasn't included on this disc as a bonus.....would really love to see that again--just to compare the two Tommys!

05-05-2008, 12:44 AM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I did not like the first Tommy at all. Phillip made the Tommy character his. Seeing ALICE tackle major issues or controversial issues was not meant to be. The show was perfect being just a funny show. With Flo in the mix, it was great.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

01-05-2009, 01:34 AM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I saw the episode with Alice's date who turned out to be gay. Yes, it would be no big deal if aired today, but I guess that would be a pretty big deal in 1976. That's even before Soap, with Billy Crystal's gay character.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

01-06-2009, 12:17 AM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	You mean this guy? Yes. Attached Images

05-05-2008, 12:46 AM	#3
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	I'm glad that Alice was not a NORMAN LEAR production

05-05-2008, 12:48 AM	#4
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I guess they tried with that one episode and realized "this is not going to work." Thank goodness. I could not begin to imagine this: A very special episode: Flo discovers her love for women.

05-05-2008, 12:51 AM	#5
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	But don't you remember when Alice suggested that Flo go to the cabin with two women instead of a man, Flo's repsonse: "Alice, that's kinky!"

05-05-2008, 12:53 AM	#6
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Ok, forget what I said above. I forgot. Thanx for the reminder.

01-05-2009, 10:22 AM	#8
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	And for that fact that is was handled rather well for the time, rather than the normal over-reacting that could have been done.

01-05-2009, 09:32 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Yes, and this was right around the time Marty on Barney Miller was introduced, who was DEFINITELY a stereotype.

01-06-2009, 12:09 AM	#10
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	^ re: Marty--was he the ascot wearing, limp wristed, swishy type used as a recurring character on BM?

01-06-2009, 12:20 AM	#12
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	^That be him!

01-08-2009, 12:44 AM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	The guy on the left, Ray Stewart, when on to play a male nurse on AES Hudson Street, opposite Gregory Sierra's Dr. Menzies.